Merry Christmas!

At Christmas, we celebrate the revelation of God’s heart through the birth of His Son Jesus, who the Bible makes clear also reveals our hearts.

God’s truth, love, mercy and grace shines through Jesus, even as Simeon also told Mary eight days after Jesus’ birth :  "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed...” (NIV Luke 2:34)

Encouraging professing believers in Jesus to allow Him to search and reveal their hearts is a big part of our ministry in Uganda. We believe this is the essence of discipleship. The condition of our hearts reveals the depth of our relationship with the one born of a virgin who lived a sinless life and died as payment for our sins.

As we disciple students, we work with groups of 15-20 in various sessions and one on one with individual students.  Learning about the practical application of living out the Gospel is key to having an abundant spiritual life. Do we inquire of the Lord in all our decisions?  How do we lead others with a servant’s heart?  How do we handle money and success and honor God in all aspects? What are the basics of practical problem-solving and planning? In all of these situations the condition of our hearts reflects  our relationship with Jesus and how we live our lives.

In our daily decisions, the challenge is to have Jesus on the throne, rather than ourselves. Or, to put it another way, in our decisions, are we saying “yes” to Jesus or “no” to Jesus?

Putting Jesus first places us in conflict with all other world views. It is tough, but necessary, teaching that being a friend of the world makes us an enemy of God (James 4:4). Simeon made it clear to Mary and Joseph there is no neutral reaction to Jesus.

The great English pastor Charles Spurgeon said, “Never does a man hear the gospel, but he either rises or falls under that hearing.” Even if we have fallen, God’s grace allows us to repent in faith and be risen.  As we rejoice this Christmas, let us reaffirm the birth of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in our hearts even as we also celebrate the baby in a manger.

                                               

Merry Christmas,

Mark and Margaret

Fire, Freedom and Multiplication

Just as we began worship in the tiny one-room church in a swampy slum along Lake Victoria, a billowing fire burst out in the shrine (witch doctor hut) across the muddy road.

John translates as Mark teaches

The ladies and children singing with us shrieked and ran out to see what was happening. Nearly as soon as it started, the fire burned itself out as men tossed sand and water upon it.

Then it was back to worship as the mothers nursed and many children ran around naked from the waist  down.  Just another day in Uganda!

The ladies, gathered by John Mugowa, a young man we have discipled for 10 years, enthusiastically received Mark’s message of freedom and identity in Jesus. As professing believers, they claimed their acceptance, security and significance in Jesus. Margaret offered up a heartfelt prayer for the ladies, their families and the community.

Then it was off to celebrate John’s birthday in a nearby classy restaurant which nonetheless seemed light years away from where we just worshiped.

John is a great encouragement and blessing from the Lord to us as he continues to use his gifts to bear fruit for the Kingdom. He used his scholarship from The Rock Outreach to gain a degree from Uganda Christian University and now runs his own IT services business. The majority of his ministry to the single mothers and children is self-funded.

John himself was an orphan after his father, a witch doctor, died when he was a young boy. His story is told in a Rock documentary which may be viewed at www.rockoutreach.org/p/firm-place-video.html.